;io THE CARNIVORES 



strong, but later on by hundreds of thousands. They generally go to a distance of 

 from a quarter to half a mile from the shore, on what are technically known as the 

 " hauling grounds," in contradistinction to the "rookeries." These seals are in some 

 cases allowed to pass up and down to their haunts by passages left between the fam- 

 ily parties on the rookeries; but more generally repair to the beaches unoccupied by 

 the rookeries, where they will occupy the whole space from the shore to a distance 

 of a quarter of a mile or more inland. Some of the younger ones will, moreover, 

 occasionally desert the neighborhood of the shore, and proceed still further inland to 

 play among the fresh moss and grass which grows in the interior. These young 

 seals do not undergo any long periods of fasting, but are constantly repairing to the 

 sea at short but uncertain intervals. For instance, during a few dull and foggy 

 days they may be found by hundreds of thousands on the hauling grounds; but a 

 single warm and sunny day will drive almost the whole assemblage to the sea, leav- 

 ing their haunts well-nigh deserted. They are thoroughly restless creatures, being 

 constantly on the move; and although very frolicsome and sportive, never seem to 

 quarrel or fight. In the water these young seals distinguish themselves by their 

 active evolutions; frequently jumping out after the manner of dolphins, more espe- 

 cially when surprised, and in such cases turning their heads when in the air to catch 

 a glimpse at the cause of their disturbance. 



Mr. Elliot adds that sea-bears of all ages ' ' swim with great rapidity, and may 

 be fairly said to dart along with the velocity of a bird on the wing under the surface 

 of the water; and in all their swimming I have not been able yet to satisfy myself 

 how they used their long, flexible hind-feet, other than as steering mediums. 

 The propelling motion, if they have any, is so rapid, that my eye is not quick enough 

 to catch it; the fore-feet, however, can be very distinctly seen to work, feathering 

 forward and sweeping back flatly, opposed to the water, with great rapidity and en- 

 ergy, and are evidently the sole propelling power. ' ' 



It appears that of the total number of sea-bears about half are males 

 and half females; but some two-thirds of the former are never per- 

 mitted by their older and stronger brethren to mix with the females, but herd to- 

 gether by themselves in the manner just described. It is these bachelor seals which 

 are alone allowed to be killed in the Pribilofs; and it will be evident that their asso- 

 ciation by themselves frequently miles away from the breeding grounds must 

 greatly facilitate the arrangements for their slaughter. When the bachelor seals are 

 assembled near the water, on some morning early in June, a small party of natives 

 will run along the beach, and readily turn thousands of them inland. When once 

 turned, the party is easy to manage; and on firm or grassy ground the whole herd 

 in cool weather can be driven at the rate of half a mile an hour, but frequent halts 

 must be made. The weaker seals will, however, drop out from time to time, and 

 are left either to recover or to perish, especially when the march is long; it is there- 

 fore advisable to make the journey as short as possible. 



Arriving at the place of slaughter, the seals are herded, and allowed to rest and 

 cool; after which they are driven off in detachments of from fifty to two hundred, 

 and knocked on the head with heavy oaken bludgeons. The work of killing and 

 skinning is carried out with great rapidity; a party of forty- five men having driven, 



